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(No Model.)

' R. REACH.

TIE PLATE.

' No. 437,821. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

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WITNESSES JNVENTOR .dttorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT REACH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN PATENTS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TIE-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,821, dated October '7, 1890.

Application filed July 5, 1890. Serial No. 857,827. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I ROBERT REACH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tie-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in what is known as a tie-plate, the same being a device adapted to be inserted in the floor of a gymnasium or other exercising-room, and to afford a connection for the guys that brace a vaulting-bar or other apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved tieplate as arranged for connection with a guy. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the same secured to a floor. Fig. 3 is a plan of the device slightly modified in form. Fig. 4 is a section of the device shown in Fig 3. Fig. 5 shows one application of. the device forming the subject-matter of this case.

A is a metallic plate perforated near each corner for the passage of a screw or bolt, by means of which it can be securely fastened to the floor of the gymnasium or exercising-room, said plate being let into the floor so that its upper surface shall be flush therewith, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the center of the plate is an opening 00 with beveled sides, so as to receive and supportthe upper member 1 of a connecting-piece B, the said member 1 being connected to a lower parallel member 2, by means of a neck 3. Preferably, the member 2 is cylindrical and of a length greater than the width of the opening 00, and in the plate or member 1 is a finger-hole or recess y.

When the apparatus is not in use the plate 1 of the connecting-piece B lies in the opening as, with its surface flush with that of the plate A, so that there is presented no projection above the surface of the floor.

WVhen it is necessary to erect a vaultingbar or other structure which must be braced and supported by guys, the finger is inserted in the opening y and the plate 1 is raised out of the opening w and turned to a transverse position, as shown in full lines Fig. 1, and in dotted lines, Fig. 2, so that the cross member 2 bears against the under side of the plate A, while the upper member 1 is engaged by the hooked yoke Z, to which the guy-rope is attached. It will be evident that this connection may be made in a few moments, and that thereby is afforded a very strong attachment for the guy-rope, and that after the gymnastic or other apparatus is taken down the plate 1 may at once be restored to its first position, leaving the floor wholly unobstructed.

It is not absolutely necessary to construct the connecting-piece B with the members 1 and 2 in line with each other. Thus the member 1 may be T-shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, with the member 2 arranged crosswise, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the recess .70 being beveled only at the ends, so that it may swing and slide in position (shown in Fig. 4) for the attachment of the guys.

In Fig. 5 I have shown one application of the device to support aparallel bar, in which the bar a is supported on standards I), and the guy-ropes w are secured to the bar or standards at one end and to the hooked yokes Z, which engage the plate 1 of the tie-plate.

lVit-hout limitingmyself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim- A tie-plate consisting of a plate A, having a recess with hearing edges, and a connecting-piece 13, consisting of a plate or member 1, adapted to fit said recess, a member 2, adapted to engage with the bottom of the plate, and a connecting-neck 3, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed m yname to this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

ROBERT REACH. lVitnesses:

A. W. KIDDLE, WM. A. BEDDING. 

